Page 341 - the-scarlet-pimpernel

‘We are not going back to Calais, sweetheart,’ he said,
‘but just the other side of Gris Nez, not half a league from
here. The boat of the DAY DREAM will meet us there.’
‘The boat of the DAY DREAM?’
‘Yes!’ he said, with a merry laugh; ‘another little trick of
mine. I should have told you before that when I slipped that
note into the hut, I also added another for Armand, which I
directed him to leave behind, and which has sent Chauvelin
and his men running full tilt back to the ‘Chat Gris’ after
me; but the first little note contained my real instructions,
including those to old Briggs. He had my orders to go out
further to sea, and then towards the west. When well out of
sight of Calais, he will send the galley to a little creek he and
I know of, just beyond Gris Nez. The men will look out for
me—we have a preconcerted signal, and we will all be safe-
ly aboard, whilst Chauvelin and his men solemnly sit and
watch the creek which is ‘just opposite the ‘Chat Gris.‘‘“
‘The other side of Gris Nez? But I…I cannot walk, Percy,’
she moaned helplessly as, trying to struggle to her tired feet,
she found herself unable even to stand.
‘I will carry you, dear,’ he said simply; ‘the blind leading
the lame, you know.’
Sir Andrew was ready, too, to help with the precious bur-
den, but Sir Percy would not entrust his beloved to any arms
but his own.
‘When you and she are both safely on board the DAY
DREAM,’ he said to his young comrade, ‘and I feel that
Mlle. Suzanne’s eyes will not greet me in England with re-
proachful looks, then it will be my turn to rest.’

0 The Scarlet Pimpernel